#NEF How are businesses doing: the first interim results of a survey on the state of the innovation ecosystem and business environment in Ivano-Frankivsk are available.
The New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk - Support to New Innovative Economic Clusters in Ivano-Frankivsk (NEF) project, funded by the European Union under the Mayors for Economic Growth programme, is conducting a survey on the state of the business environment and innovation ecosystem in the city.
This is the first step in identifying the current needs and challenges of local businesses, researchers, innovators, start-ups, and NGOs.
The next step is to provide entrepreneurs with consulting and information support. Entrepreneurs can get a free consultation on a topic that is relevant to their business.
First findings of the survey
The majority of those who completed the survey are micro and small businesses, 88% of them. Almost half of them (44%) are relocated from other cities of Ukraine.
Interestingly, 15% of entrepreneurs say that their income has increased this year compared to the previous year. The majority report a significant decrease in income compared to last year, with 23% of entrepreneurs reporting a drop of up to one-third of their income in 2021.
However, there is also an interesting trend: more than half of entrepreneurs would like to start exporting products to foreign markets, with representatives of both manufacturing and service businesses among the potential exporters.
Among companies that already export, the majority (47%) operate in the European market. These entrepreneurs have a need to increase their export sales.
39% of the surveyed entrepreneurs are in dire need of financial resources, while 49% need funds to develop certain areas. Most companies (78%) need funds for development.
More than 73% of entrepreneurs need information on existing grant programmes for business development. Entrepreneurs have almost equal needs for training, consulting and access to information about business opportunities.
Among the issues on which business needs the most support are marketing, access to financing, sales, business development, communication and PR and export. Significantly fewer entrepreneurs need help with recruiting, legal issues, business digitalization.
The survey was attended by entrepreneurs and companies from Ivano-Frankivsk, both local and reloaded, from various fields: the production of food and non-food products, energy, education, consulting, restaurant activities, etc.
Participants who pass the survey will receive information about current business support programs that are currently operating in Ukraine, information support depending on the request, if necessary - free consulting support (one or two two two-hour free business consultations with experts on various topics: marketing, sales, export, business processes, communications and PR, finance, grants for business, accounting, personnel management, etc.)
How to participate in the survey? Follow the link and fill out the application (it will take 3-5 minutes):
The survey is conducted within the framework of the project "New Economy of Ivano-Frankivsk (NEF)" - a project that involves the process of transformation of the city into a competitive innovative economic center. The project is implemented by a consortium of partners: the Executive Committee of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council, the Promprylad.Renovation innovation center, the METALAB urban laboratory, the PPV Knowledge Networks economic development agency and the Teple Misto platform.